History of Darby, (Delaware County) Pennsylvania United States of America

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Thomas Alexander Scott, railroad president, was born in London, Franklin county, Pa., Dec. 28, 1824; son of Thomas Scott, the keeper of "Tom Scott's Tavern" on the old limestone turnpike from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh. He attended the country schools in winter, worked on the farm in summer, and served as clerk in stores in Waynesboro, Bridgeport, and Mercersburg. He was clerk to the toll collector at Columbia on the state road, 1841?47; chief clerk to the collector of tolls in Philadelphia, and in 1851 entered the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad. He was general-superintendent of the mountain district, with headquarters at Duncasville, 1852?57; general agent of the Pittsburg office, 1853?55; general superintendent of the entire line as successor to General Lombaert, 1855?59; and vice president, 1859?61. He was appointed on the staff of Gov. Andrew G. Curtin, and in 1861, with the aid of the U.S. troops, opened the new line of railway from Washington to Philadelphia. He was commissioned colonel of volunteers May 3, 1861, and was put in control of all government railways and telegraphs. He was assistant secretary of war under Secretary Cameron, 1861, and under Secretary Stanton, until May, 1862. He utilized the transportation of the northwest and of the western rivers for the benefit of the U.S. army. On Sept. 24, 1863, he accepted a government commission to repair the railroads and superintend the transportation of the 11th and 12th army corps sent through Nashville to General Rosecrans at Chattanooga, and he served as assistant quartermaster general on the staff of General Hooker. He was chosen president of the western division of the Pennsylvania railroad in 1861, president of the Pennsylvania Company, the agency through which the Pennsylvania; railroad obtained leases of connecting roads to the west and of the "Pan Handle Route" 1871. He was also the president of the Union Pacific railroad, 1871?72, and of the Pennsylvania railroad, 1874?80, resigning in 1880, on account of failing health. He was the founder and first president of the Texas Pacific railroad. He died in Darby, Pa., May 21, 1881.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Darby, (Delaware County) Pennsylvania

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